After Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K. were outed as sexual predators, Netflix took action pretty quickly, suspending production on “House of Cards” and canceling Louis C.K.’s comedy special. But as we noted earlier this month, their silence has been conspicuously deafening when it comes to another alleged sexual predator, Danny Masterson.
Masterson, one of the stars of Netflix’s series “The Ranch,” is an alleged violent rapist and stands accused of raping multiple women. Why hasn’t he suffered consequences like Spacey or Louis C.K.? Is it because the Church of Scientology is protecting longtime devotee Masterson? Or is his publicist just really convincing when it comes to spinning rape accusations?
Don’t be surprised if it’s a combination of both:
Exclusive: In audio of a phone call I obtained, @dannymasterson's publicist, Jenni Weinman, suggests to one of his victims that a woman can't be raped by a man she's in a relationship with. The Church of Scientology told the victim this as well.
Link: https://t.co/dJJekciFEB pic.twitter.com/e128CzY6no
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) November 22, 2017
2. Here's the statement @dannymasterson's publicist sent after I sent her a transcript of the audio above. pic.twitter.com/drijUNH449
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) November 22, 2017
Danny Masterson’s longtime publicist told an alleged victim that a woman cannot be raped by a man she’s dating https://t.co/fNknSZPjjQ
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) November 23, 2017
More from HuffPost’s Yashar Ali:
In a recorded phone call obtained by HuffPost, Jenni Weinman, the longtime publicist of actor Danny Masterson, suggested to one of the four women accusing Masterson of rape that a woman who is in a relationship with a man can’t claim that man raped her. In that conversation, Weinman remained unfazed when presented with accusations that her client had raped women while they were unconscious.
Two of the women accusing Masterson of rape have told HuffPost that Weinman played an integral part in covering up Masterson’s alleged crimes. They say Weinman worked to cover up the allegations by threatening, cajoling and lying to victims in an effort to silence them.
The Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office have been investigating Masterson for nearly a year for allegedly raping four women. The women, two of whom were in romantic relationships with Masterson at the time of the alleged incidents, say that Masterson violently raped them after spiking their drinks, causing them to slip in and out of consciousness. (Masterson’s attorney disputes this, saying that as a Scientologist, his client has a strict anti-drug policy.)
Moreover:
3. Despite a significant DA investigation (led by a top prosecutor in the LA DA's office) into four allegations of violent rape, @netflix says they are not suspending Masterson pending investigation. https://t.co/dJJekciFEB
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) November 22, 2017
Netflix was quick to remove Kevin Spacey from HoC, yet Danny Masterson remains a paid actor on The Ranch. This article is horrifying. https://t.co/vH2IcX9kdE
— Drew Reeves (@DrewReevesKXLY) November 23, 2017
I have no words left today. Please don’t let them get away with this!!!
— Rena Sofer (@RenaSofer) November 23, 2017
Think Scientology has something to do with it?
— Tiffany Couldridge? (@TCouldridge) November 23, 2017
I have a feeling the reason why he is still working, no investigation to speak of, is that people continue to be afraid of #Scientology. I mean look at the abuses going on in this cult. Horribly sad and disturbing.
— Robin Roemer (@robinshoots) November 23, 2017
this is beyond creepy
— Jacqueline (@Jacqh419) November 23, 2017
Fucking disgusting. Not sure what else to say.
— Laurie Dhue (@RealLaurieDhue) November 23, 2017
It seems like at the very least, it might behoove Netflix to put the brakes on things while the investigation proceeds.
Yo @netflix, so you're still going ahead with that new season of The Ranch? https://t.co/7Fg8pWdPY4
— Kayleigh Donaldson (@Ceilidhann) November 22, 2017
